1953 | Land Rover 80

Land Rover 80 "Vidal & Son"
Built in 1953 under German license, year of manufacture 1953, 1997cm3, 37kW / 50HP

contemporary witness

With the "Tempo Land Rover 80" we offer a very extraordinary contemporary witness for the young Federal Republic of Germany.

After the first units of the German Federal Border Guard (BGS) were set up in April 1951 with the consent and at the instigation of the Allied Western Powers, initially with a strength of 10,000 men, the demand for a light, fully off-road emergency vehicle arose very quickly.

Oskar Vidal (Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werk in Hamburg-Harburg) reacted to the BGS's corresponding tender in a very pragmatic way:
After rapid and professional in-house development was unthinkable in the early 1950s, the Tempo factory applied for a licensed replica of the Land Rover 80, which had been built in Solihull near Birmingham since 1948, and was awarded the contract for the first batch of vehicles 100 vehicles.
These Tempo Land Rover 80s were manufactured between 1952 and 1953. They were then replaced by the Tempo Land Rover 86 (including a 6-inch longer wheelbase).
According to the license agreement, the technology was supplied from England, while the frame and body were manufactured in the Vidal bodyworks factory in Hamburg. At the request of the BGS, the outer skin of the 80 was made of steel (instead of aluminum) and was made around 10cm higher than the original.
In addition, 2 storage compartments were “designed” into the front fenders and the spare wheel holder was changed.

Its 2-liter 4-cylinder engine starts perfectly, runs pleasantly robustly, reacts spontaneously to every movement of the accelerator pedal and accelerates the off-road vehicle, which weighs 1,450 kg, quickly and effortlessly.

With 2 x 4 gears, it reaches a top speed of around 80km/h on the open road, but with the short gear ratio it feels like it can take on every conceivable incline off-road.

Once in motion, the steering is pleasantly light. This German Landy doesn't need frequent corrections on the open road!

The decently sized drum brakes also work perfectly, pull well - and, above all, straight.

Driving this Landy is undoubtedly archaic -- but that's precisely its appeal. During our journeys we couldn't help but smile slightly to moderately.

Regardless of its special historical significance, this vehicle is also technically in perfect condition, well maintained and can be used immediately.

We hand over the Tempo LR 80 ready to go with an H certificate, a recent MOT and a valuation report for your insurance company.

If you wish, we can deliver the car to your doorstep at cost.